July 01, 2015

JetBlue Opens T5 Rooftop at JFK with Places for People, Pets to Unwind

Gensler-designed T5 Rooftop offers a unique place for kids to play, people to enjoy the Manhattan skyline, and the first airside pet walk area, all on a rooftop

NEW YORK — Today, JetBlue opens T5 Rooftop, designed by Gensler, atop Terminal 5 (T5) at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport. Open to everyone who clears security at the terminal, T5 Rooftop will offer customers spectacular views of Manhattan and the adjacent TWA Terminal from an enviable vantage point: an outdoor roof deck at the airport. In keeping with the vision for all of Terminal 5, the design emphasizes well-being and offers customers unexpectedly delightful places to spend time at the airport. Even traveling pets will enjoy the park, as it boasts the first airside, post-security dog walk area on a rooftop.

T5 Rooftop is a seamless extension of Gensler’s award-winning design for T5 (which opened in 2008) and T5i (an international extension, which opened in November 2014), and was built in collaboration with Arup, Turner Construction, and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The 4,046-square-foot rooftop includes landscaped green spaces, seating for 50 people, a 400-square-foot children’s play area and a dedicated 400-square-foot dog-walk area.

“We are New York’s Hometown Airline, so T5 was designed to show off the pride we have for our city. We brought many elements of our city into T5, including the new T5 Rooftop. As rooftops and summer fun go hand in hand in New York, we wanted to bring this unique feature to customers traveling through T5,” said Rich Smyth, vice president, corporate real estate, JetBlue.

Gensler designed T5 Rooftop with a particular focus on passenger well-being. Passengers will have access to views of the city and a breath of fresh air in the most unexpected of places, a rooftop at the airport. Unlike other rooftop clubs at U.S. airports, the park is open to all customers who clear security at T5, not just VIPs or “elite-status” flyers.

“Gensler’s design strategy was to look for ways to make the most of moments that travelers take for granted, and part of that is seeking out spaces at the airport that designers typically overlook. The roof park is yet another way to surprise JetBlue customers with fun experiences that you don’t usually have at an airport,” said Gensler architect and Principal Ty Osbaugh.

Guided by JetBlue’s mission to bring humanity back to air travel, Gensler’s design includes many customer friendly design elements for which T5 is known:

* Sustainable design with a focus on well-being features native plantings and recycled content materials;

* The modern, timeless and clean design features a wood roof deck, aluminum furniture and planters, and playful contemporary landscape design, all in keeping with the JetBlue brand;

* Features that travelers love in T5 continue atop the terminal at the park: customers will have access to free Wi-Fi and three food and beverage carts/kiosks from Blue Marble ice cream, Hebrew National hot dogs, and more.

About JetBlue Airways

JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline™, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood, Los Angeles (Long Beach), Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries more than 32 million customers a year to 90 cities in the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America with an average of 875 daily flights. For more information please visit JetBlue.com.

Recent accolades: #1 Most Admired Firm in 2014 by World Architecture and one of the Top 5 Most Admired ‘Global Firms’ by Interior Design in 2014; ‘World’s Biggest Architect’ on Building Design’s World Architecture 100 in 2014 and 2013; AIA Institute Honor Awards for Architecture in 2014 and 2012; and for the 33rd consecutive year, Gensler tops Interior Design’s Top 100 Giants list.